To set up private servers in Once Human for friend-only gameplay, access the custom server settings within the game and configure the features accordingly.

The feature's own name is the Custom Server, and it is a rental hosted by Starry Studio rather than a package you download and run.

Prerequisites Before Setting Up a Server

Before creating a private server, take note of the following:

prerequisites

  • Ensure you are familiar with the in-game server settings options.
  • A rental package, taken in-game or from the official rental page. Packages differ in length and in player limit.
  • A scenario decided in advance: changing it later resets the server and everyone starts a new character.
  • Room for the group. A server holds up to 500 registered users, and inactive characters can be deleted automatically.

Steps for Setting Up Private Servers

To establish a private server for friend-only gameplay, follow these steps:

steps

  1. Access the options for custom server settings in the game.
  2. Configure your server settings according to your preferences.

Every parameter lives in the Manage server menu, reached before you enter the world. Basic Settings is where a friends-only server is made friends-only: name, public permissions, player capacity and slogan. Scenario Settings beside it is a themed rule package, fixing scenario type, stage, difficulty and tasks in one go.

The rest run deep:

  • World Parameters — resource acquisition rates, farming and husbandry pacing, Deviant kill rewards, Deviation capture rates, and map conveniences like removing Teleport cooldowns.
  • Combat Parameters — PvP on or off, damage, HP and ammo use, and Deviant HP, damage, speed, aggro range and alert sensitivity across minion, Elite, Alpha and Boss.
  • Survival and Building — building costs, overlapping and floating structure rules, territory management; Character Abilities can lift hunger and thirst entirely.

What Carries Over, and What Does Not

A custom server is its own world, and that is what catches people out: characters are bound to one server, and an official-server character will not turn up on yours.

A reset leaves characters their nickname and customization settings and takes everything else, while your changed parameters stay changed. An expired rental freezes with its data intact and comes back on renewal, but 30 days after expiry it is gone.

Running It Day to Day

Server Host Privileges, at the bottom of the main menu, is the in-game control panel: send items to any player (they arrive by mail, so tell people to check), add leaderboards, and ban accounts or wipe characters under Player Management. Both are irreversible. Hosts can appoint admins with the same permissions.

Version 3.0.4 (August 24, 2026) also let a host post their location in chat for others to click and teleport to.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If problems arise during the setup or gameplay process, consider the following resolutions:

  1. Ensure that the server settings are properly configured.
  2. Review the account linking guidelines to ensure smooth connectivity.

Most parameter changes apply immediately, some wait for a restart, and some are tied to the scenario: farming and husbandry options are absent under Once Human: RaidZone.

FAQ

how to setup server for friends in Once Human

To create a server for friends in Once Human, access the custom server settings, configure the options, and launch the server for private gameplay.

troubleshoot co-op gameplay issues

To address common co-op gameplay issues in Once Human, verify server settings and follow proper account linking practices.

can I bring my official server character onto a custom server

No. Each character is bound to a single server, and custom servers have no data migration.

Sources

This guide was written from the videos below. All rights remain with their creators.

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